The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-13
TnE ROLLING FLAME.
Terrible Prairie Fire Raging In KAN
sas.
Fifteen Lives Lost-Thousands {
Head Of stock Destroyed.
A Tract 60 Miles Long Swept Clear
The Fire Still Burning.

| ATcHIsoN. Kan, April 12.-No less thar
10 persons have been burned to death by the
prairie fires, which, starting Nicodemus, Ora
ham county, have swept northwest on an all
line into Norton county. destroying every.
thing in path that in places is from q to I
miles wide-a great roaring sea Of flame
rolling in tremendous sheets under the i'm.
petus Of the high wind which prevailed all
day Saturday and Saturday night.
Starting on the south fork Of the Solomon
River, in Graham county, the fire swept north
to the north fork, which it crossed at Ed
mund, station on the Central Branch Rail-
road in Norton county, and at last accounts
it was still sweeping toward the northwest
diagonally across Norton county in the di-
rection Of Decatur, the adjoining county on
the west, carrying destruction and death in
its path.
Thousands of head of stock of all kinds
have been burned, and thousands OF tons of
hay, corn and wheat and from 100 to 175
houses and barns have been destroyed. The
been left homeless and destitute. 1t is i'm
possible as vet to learn the names OF those
who perished in the flames. Tremendous
excitement prevails all through the burned
district which extends distance OF over 80
width, with the fire still spreading west and
northwest. A large number Of horses, cat
tie, sheep and hogs have been destroyed.
Relief will be forwarded to the sufferers at
once from towns east of the fire line. The
fire is still raging furiousl, and the people
along its path are terror-stricken. The de-
struction of the telegraph poles and wires be-
tween Greenleaf and Edmund prevents the
obtaining of further details.
reports concerning the destruction Of life
and property caused by the great prairie fire
that swept over the eastern portion of Nor
ton and Graham counties Saturday are ap-
palllng. 1t is pitiful sight to pass over the
burned district and see thousands of burned
chickens, turkeys, and hundreds of hogs and
horses. Almost every farmer has lost from
on TO 300 bushels of corn besides small grain.
lt is definitely known that from 13 to 16 lives
were lost in two counties. Four children
perIshed in one family. Another fire swept
down the South Fork of the Solomon to
point near mill brook, sweeping everything
IN its path, and burning SIX persons to death,
father, mother and four children, and large
number Of cattle, horses, hogs and poultry.
Great Loss to Property in Dakota.
SIOUX FALLS, OAK, April 12.-Reports of
loss OF property from prairie fires during the
wind storm OF Friday and Saturday continue
to come in. Eighteen miles west of here a
tremendous fire started and swept the coun-
try for miles. Henry Strallen, George Fuller,
John jacobson and f. M. Hall lost their
houses and contents, and also their barns,
farm machinery, grain, stock and several
horses. James Hutchinson, G. Z. Greelan,
w. S. Brooks, VIM. Igo and Edward Walker
lost their barns and contents. Other losses
are indefinitely reported. 1t was the most
destructive fire that ever visited this part of
the country, and the total loss win exceed
100000.